Seed-sowing machine.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

M. Hr BROWNING. SEED sowme MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.15.1906.

WILZn eases.- M? QM, J'JM Z/Q V UNITED STATES MELVIN, Ii IBRoWNING.

was OFFICE 'ot 'PERRY, ILLINOIS.

SEED-SOWINQ MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern.

Y Be it known that I, MELVIN H. BROWNING, a citizen of the United Statesand a resident of Perry, in the county of Pike and State of Illinois,have invented an Improved Broadcast Seeder, of which thefollowing is aspecification.

My invention is an improvement on that class, ofbroadcast seed-sowingmachines which are particularly adapted for sowing clover and otherseeds among standing corn or on ground in which corn or other crop hasbeen planted in rows.

The features of novelty are hereinafter described and specificallypointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of myimproved machine: Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the linea aof Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a side viewof the seedhopper, together with -a supporting-bracket and a portion ofthe frame of the machine, the frame being shown in section. Fig. 5 is adetail view hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 is a side view of theseed-distributor proper.

Seed-hoppers 12 are mounted upon a frame composed of telescoping tubes 11 and 4 4, the larger tubes 1 1 constituting what may be termed the mainframe or body of the. frame, taken as a whole, and the smaller tubes 4 4are adapted to slide therein. The parts 4 4 thus constitute asupplemental frame which is adjustable with relation to the main frame.The tubes 1 1 composing the main frame are spaced 9. art and rigidlyconnected by tie and brace are 2, and from the rear ends of the latterdepend, as shown in Fig. 2, bars 3, which are bent at each end, thelower end forming an axlefor running or bearing wheels 3*. There are twosuch wheels, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, the same being spaced apart, soas to run between rows of corn or other plants. Braces 3 (see Fig. 2)extend from the supporting-bars 3 to the front portions of theframe-bars 2. Thus the said bars and the frame are supported inhorizontal position. A tongue or pole 1 is attached to the middleportion of the main frame. Two of the hoppers are supported upon themain frame, and one is supported on each of the supplemental frames 4 4.There are two supports for each hopper, the same being in the nature ofangular brackets 5, (see Fig. 4,) which are clipped to themain tubes 1or smaller tubes A seed-discharge funnel 12 (see Fig. 5) de-Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2.

Patented Jan. 22. 1907. 1906. smuuassm za pends from the bottom of eachhop er". Su Elemental hangers 6 also depend from t e ottom of eachhopper 12 and to and between the lower ends of these is pivoted astirrup 7, which supports a seed-tube 8, to

whoselowcr end the seeddistributer 11 is attached. A bevel gear orpinion is attached to the upper end of the seed-tube 8 and secured bycla1np-screws,whereby the tube is supported and attached in a mannerwhich permits rotation. The pivotal arrangement of the stirrup 7 alsopermits the seed-tube with its distributer 11 to swing forward and back,so that if the distributer strikes an obstruction it may pass overthe'same without mjury. Rotation is imparted to the seedtube 8 from abevel-pinion on a: horizontal shaft 9, which is journaled in the bracket6'. Rotation is imparted: to the shaft 9 from a stub drivin -shaft,which is supported upon a bracket ed to the rearportion of the mainframe 1. -The stub-shaft is drivenfrom the axle of the adjacentrunning-wheel 3 by means of sprocket-gearing, as shown in It will benoted that the point of the seed-funnel 12 approximates closely theupper end of the seed-tube 8, and the end of the latter is in line withthe shaft 9, so that seed willcontinue to enter the tube 8 even while itmay swing backward by reason of contact with an obstruction.

A force-feed .is providedby means of a rotatable stirrer or agitatorarranged in the funnels of the respective hoppers, and this device isdriven by a shaft 10, having its bearings in the frame connections 2 andbrackets 5", which are pendent from the hoppers 12. (See Fi 4;) Theshaft 10 is driven from the stu -shaft by a sprocket-gearin arranged asshown in Fi 2. The distri uter or seed-scattering device 11 is formed ofa cast-metal hub, having four radial Wings inclined slightly downwardand two conical plates placed one over the other and spaced apart, asshown in Fig. 6. There is a space between the inner ends of the wingsinto which the seed is delivered from the tube 8. It will be seen thatthe conical top plate serves as a cover, preventing the wings catchingon .weeds or other obstructions and also preventing the seed beingthrown off except at the periphery of the distributor. The tube 8, withthe distributor, being revolved rapidly, the seed is delivered laterallyat a slight downward inclination and is distributed evenly.

'lhd machine will ordinarily be made above twelve feet in length; butthe frame may be telescoped by uncoupling the feed-shafts 10. (see Fig.3) and pushing the tubes 4 into the main tubes tlms placing the outerhoppers close to the wheels, so that the machine is reduced to abouteight feet in len th. In practice the gears on the stub-s afts may bemade of different diameters to drive the force-feed with greater or lessrapidity, and. thus sow a greater or less quantity of seed in a giventime. In other words, by adjusting the outer wheel on the stub-shaftsthe feedshaft 10 may be driven at different speeds and the amount ofgrain so regulated.

What I claim is 1. The improved broadcast sower, comprising a frame madeof telescopic parts, seed-hoppers mounted and supported upon the mainframe and telescopic portions, running-wheels upon which the main frameis supported, seed-tubes pivoted beneath the hoppers and adapted toswing forward and back, seed-distributors attached to the lower ends ofsaid seed-tubes, and gearing operatively connecting the running-wheelswith the seed-tubes, whereby the seed-tubes and their attacheddistributors are rotated as the ma chine advances, as described.

2. In a broadcast seed-sewer of the type indicated, the combination,with the frame and wheel-s11pports, of hoppers secured upon the frame,seed-tubes pivoted beneath the hoppers and having distributors at theirlower ends, funnels pendent from the hoppers and alined with theseed-tubes for dischar ing thereinto, and gearing which operative yconnects the seed-tubes with the runningwheels, as shown and described.

3. In a broadcast seed-sower of the type indicated, the main framecomprising parallel tubes 1, and wheel-supports therefor, connectingmembers whereby the said tubes are held rigidly spaced apart,supplemental frames comprising smaller tubes adapted to slide in thoseof the main frame and supported thereby, seed-hoppers mounted upon thesupplemental frame and also upon the niain frame, seed-distributingdevices connected with each of the hoppers, rotary shafts for drivingthe seed-distributors, and means which operatively connect said shaftswith the running-wheels whereby the shafts are driven as the machineadvances, as shown and described.

4. Ina broadcast seed-sewer of the type indicated, the combination, withthe supporting-frame and hoppers arranged thereon the same, said tubeshaving at their lower ends a sced-distributer comprising two platesarranged one over the other and spaced apart, radial wings arrangedbetween the plates, a space being left between their inner ends intowhich the seed is received preliminary to its lateral discharge, asshown and described.

MELVIN n. BROWNING.

Witnesses:

J. B. GREGORY, F. C. MOORE.

